...and all through the town, everyone was scrambling, around and around... or it is just me?! 😂
But seriously, it was a bit of a hectic week! Mostly just from trying to cross things off all.the.lists - work, house chores, finishing up the final Christmas shopping and getting things wrapped, keeping the kiddo engaged in the final few days of school, getting as much prepped as possible for Christmas Day meals so that too much time on the day itself wouldn't be spent in the kitchen, attempting to get in my running. Pretty much, I was tired before the week even started! Ah, the magic of the holidays!😜
Started off the week with a walk around the indoor track during swim practice on Monday. (2.3 miles walked)
And if there is a theme to this year's running, it is "didn't get up on Tuesday morning for a run," which I of course followed to a T on Tuesday morning 😬 Instead it was a run around Highland Green in the late afternoon. Road shoes were not quite enough for the back dirt road, which was quite slick. Pretty afternoon though. (6.0 miles)
Got up and out Wednesday morning for a run over the river. A bit too overcast for much of a sunrise - just a sliver of orange along the horizon. And so many icy sidewalks... (7.0 miles)
Wednesday evening, being the solstice, also marks the longest night of the year, and so, along with communities throughout the country, we hosted a Homeless Memorial Service to honor and remember those experiencing homelessness who passed during the year in our area. A very nice ceremony at the UU church, followed by a lighting of candles and a reading of the names of those who had passed. A solemn reminder, especially at this time of year, that there are so many who are struggling, to truly ponder how lucky we are, and to recognize how much work there continues to be to ensure that everyone have stable housing, a necessity upon which all other basic needs rest.
Thursday was the last day of school for the week for Sam, and I was just working a half day. Wasn't originally planning to run but with a strong wind and rain storm coming in on Friday, I decided to get in some afternoon miles so I wouldn't have to go out in the nasty weather on Friday. Looped around in Highland Green. Mild and overcast. Hit 2,100 miles during the run, which while objectively pretty great, also means that I realistically won't hit 2,200 for the year as that would mean running 97 miles over 9 days, which at this point in time, and probably never, is just not a good idea, as my body needs its off days and I have just never been a high mileage runner or run streaker. Kind of bummed about it as despite my penchant for running happy, I also will admit to liking round numbers, but in the end, I know it is only numbers. No matter what the final number is on 12/31, I will still have met and exceeded my goal of running 2,000+ miles a year, which is the main thing. The rest is just gravy. (7.0 miles)
Woke up to wind howling and pouring rain on Friday and was glad to know that we would be able to have an inside day and not have to go out. Ugh, crazy weather! Wishing it was 15 degrees colder so it was snow! High winds and lots of rain all day but the power only blipped twice for a second or two, thankfully. I know we were luckier than many!! Got some things crossed off the to do list, watched The Christmas Story with the fam and made a cozy chicken pot pie for dinner.
Woke up to about 35 degree colder temps (!!) on Saturday morning, but thankfully it seemed that the rains had stopped early enough that the winds dried things out and it wasn't an ice rink outside like I had feared. Headed out around 9:30 for a run on the cart paths and to check out the river out in the Cathance. Cart paths were mostly clear, just a bit of ice, and even the Cathance was mostly bare ground minus some frozen puddles and flooding in multiple spots that required creative bushwhacking 😂😂 River was roaring! My feet only got slightly wet but I was definitely cold by the time I finished! Definitely cold and windy but bright out. (10.0 miles)
Hmmm...
...and huh....
Very flooded!
So much water!
Then after lunch, it was off to Mom and Dad's for gingerbread village decorating and our traditional Christmas Eve dinner of Indian food and gingerbread. A fun evening, and always so delish!
The decorators hard at work!
The village - so cute!
Sam got to open one present at Mom and Dad's and one at home. Flannel PJ pants for the win from Mom and Dad, and a limited edition Taylor Swift hoodie from us. It was supposed to come in January so she is pretending to be mad that we hid it and put it under the Christmas tree as a present instead of letting her have it right away when it arrived early! 😂
Gigi, of course, loved the box! 😹😻
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